ATO to shell out $50m on Brisbane office to attract staff

An eye-watering amount of money will be spent just on the fit-out of the Australian Taxation Office’s proposed new Brisbane tower. FIND OUT WHAT IT WILL BE LIKE INSIDE

THE Australian Taxation Office will spend an eye-watering $50 million just to fit out its new mega office at Brisbane’s proposed Wharf St commercial tower, with plans to have interconnecting stairs between floors “to promote connectivity and wellbeing in the workplace”.

Despite the new 27-storey Spring Hill tower not being scheduled for completion until 2022, taxpayers will fork out the cash so the design of the offices are “fit for purpose” for tax office staff.

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The ATO has hired external consultants, including a project manager and architectural design team, for the fit-out, and will also ask staff for feedback.

The ATO has four sites in Brisbane, with leases at Chermside and Upper Mount Gravatt scheduled to expire in February and December 2020 respectively.

It has arranged a variation to the leases in case the new commercial tower is not ready by the expected completion date.

An artist's impression of 152 Wharf St, Spring Hill

The ATO said the Wharf St site would require a fit-out of almost 18,000sq m.

“The proposal maximises value for money as the fit-out will allow the ATO to improve occupational density in line with government targets, provide a fit for purpose, flexible workspace that can respond to the changing needs of the ATO business with minimal cost and disruption, and an improved efficient building design that reduces operational costs into the future,’’ the ATO said in a statement.

The cost will be carved out from its existing budget, and the ATO said the community would benefit from the spend “through the delivery of the project as it will boost employment and investment in the region during the works” and would help retain and attract staff.

“The ATO will use the additional space to provide relief for the high demand at the existing site at 55 Elizabeth St,” the tax office said.

“There have been ongoing significant accommodation pressures at this site.

“The accommodation pressure has an impact on the ATO’s workforce supply, which leverages proximity to central Brisbane university campuses/education hubs, giving access to a wider talent pool for recruitment and the ongoing attraction and retention of a diverse, insightful, agile and highly competent workforce.

“This approach to the fit-out will allow the ATO to deliver a site capable of satisfying the current and future needs of our staff by providing more agile, flexible and innovative work spaces.”

The offices will have showers, lockers and secure bike storage plus interconnecting stairs between floors.

An artist's impression of 152 Wharf St, Spring Hill